Inciarte's career-high 4 RBIs help D-Backs beat Padres 8-4

Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Jake Lamb snares a hard grounder hilt by San Diego Padres' Justin Upton during the second inning of a baseball game Monday, April 13, 2015, in San Diego. Lamb got the out at first. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

Lenny Ignelzi

April 14, 2015

SAN DIEGO (AP) Ender Inciarte made his major league debut with the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park in May and played in nine other games last season at the big downtown home of the San Diego Padres.

On Monday night, it looked like he owned the place.

Inciarte hit two doubles and a triple and drove in a career-high four runs to lead the Diamondbacks to an 8-4 victory against the San Diego Padres.

He also had an outfield assist when he threw out Matt Kemp trying to go from first to third on Justin Upton's single to right in the eighth.

''To be honest I was really pumped up today so at the start of the game I was really happy to be out there and just compete,'' he said.

''I love San Diego. I know it's hard to hit extra bases here. It's not a hitter's ballpark. I wasn't thinking about that. I was just trying to get a good pitch to hit and put a good swing on it. It worked out for me.''

Inciarte hit a two-run double in the second, when the Diamondbacks scored four unearned runs on five hits off Andrew Cashner and an error, and a two-run triple in the three-run eighth to help break it open. He also doubled and scored in the seventh.

''He's forcing his way in there,'' manager Chip Hale said. ''It's exciting baseball. He's been a sparkplug for us defensively. Throwing out Kemp at third base was a big play. We were still up four runs but it probably saved us a run there. He just continues to play good baseball.''

Rubby De La Rosa (2-0) held San Diego to three runs and six hits in six innings for his second straight win. He struck out five and walked one.

The Padres were coming off three straight wins against the defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants.

Cashner (0-2) allowed consecutive singles to Mark Trumbo and Jake Lamb opening the second before striking out Aaron Hill. Second baseman Yangervis Solarte fielded Tuffy Gosewisch's groundball but threw wide of first baseman Yonder Alonso for an error, allowing Trumbo to score. De La Rosa struck out before Inciarte hit a two-run double to left and Chris Owings hit an RBI single to right.

''I thought I had some of the best stuff I've had in a long time, a good slider, a good changeup, good fastball command,'' Cashner said. ''But in the second, I kind of lost my fastball command a little bit. I thought my biggest mistake was to Inciarte.''

Said manager Bud Black: ''Obviously, the error hurt us and the hit by Inciarte was a big one for them. ... He fell behind Inciarte in the second. He'd probably like to have the pitch back to Owings that tacked on the fourth run. But overall, he was fine as far as his stuff.''

Alonso homered in the second, and Solarte helped pull the Padres within a run by hitting an RBI double in the third and an RBI single in the fifth.

Arizona's Paul Goldschmidt had an RBI groundout in the seventh and the Diamondbacks added three more runs in the eighth.

Cashner struck out nine and walked one in six innings. He allowed seven hits and four runs, all unearned.

TRAINERS ROOM

Diamondbacks: Manager Chip Hale said he'll carry two catchers through at least the Padres series and their right-handed heavy staff. C Oscar Hernandez (hand) remains on the DL.

Padres: Manager Bud Black said RHP Ian Kennedy, on the DL with a strained left hamstring, is making progress. Black said Kennedy could soon throw a bullpen session.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: RHP Jeremy Hellickson (0-1, 6.23) is scheduled to make his second start. He made his Diamondbacks debut in a 5-2 loss to San Francisco on Wednesday.

Padres: RHP Odrisamer Despaigne (0-0, 0.00) makes his first start of the season; he moved into the rotation after Ian Kennedy left Thursday's home opener with a strained left hamstring. Odrisamer relieved Kennedy and pitched 4 2-3 perfect innings of relief.

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